Anfernee Simons off the bench in the win against the Heat: 39/4/4 on 7-16 from 3PT and 6-6 FT with 1 steal, +18
Celtics win as Anfernee Simons torches the Heat from 3
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810435
Simons and Garza have been destroying other team’s benches for a bit now. It’s one of the least talked about reasons for our success the past like month
Portland asked a bit too much of Simons, hoping he would grow into the Dame replacement. Flame thrower off the bench was always the ideal role for him. He has a great skill set for that role, and Boston is a team that knows how to utilize shooters.
It was so freaking obvious and no one (connected to the team) wanted to hear it.
Yeh Simons destiny wasn’t a star, but a more efficient, lower usage Lou Williams
The thing that pissed me off most about all the Heat fans during the Dame saga were that the ones that wouldn’t shut up and couldn’t acknowledge that our biggest problem with a trade for Herro is that we already had him. Simons and Herro were virtually identical coming off that 22-23 season, with Herro being a little better defender but both still bad, and Simons being a better shooter.
And I say that as a compliment to both, and to agree with you - that was coming off Herro’s 6moty the prior season.
There was that two year stretch Portland fans got upset when someone said Ant referred to Edwards, and they’d swear up and down that Anfernee Simons was just as good as Ant and deserved the nickname
I mentioned this on this sub a couple weeks ago and got slammed saying he’s a bum.
Well Simons is a legit starter. So off the bench is just ridiculous lol
The main things I hear about Simons is how he’s on the trade block because your ownership is cheap and doesn’t want to be that far in the tax this year.
He is an expiring contract so if he plays too well, then there’s basically no chance you guys can retain him in free agency unless he takes a discount. That said, shooting guards who suck at defense like he does are a dime a dozen, so he might not be that expensive.
I think the chances of him leaving as a straight salary dump, if that ever was in consideration, are over now. Team is playing too well and he’s too big a part of it.
The real reason he’s in all the trade rumors is he’s the only tradable player that can be used to salary match for a good player.
Last I saw he was in trade rumors for both reasons, but mainly for salary dump purposes. I believe I also saw that your team doesn’t want to take any long-term salaries in exchange for him so that hurts the idea of using him as a trade piece for a better player.
A top 3 seed is not going to dump a 6moy candidate for cap relief mid season.
Simons might get traded for a player the team thinks is an upgrade. But he’s not getting thrown out to save a couple bucks.
Idk if cheap is the right term here. When competing for championships it’s obviously going to get expensive. If you have an almost guaranteed down year with the Tatum injury and you can avoid paying the repeater tax by getting under this year it makes sense to do it and then actually spend money the following years.
Just because you have billionaire owners doesn’t mean they are going to be willing to throw away money.
To your point though they tried to get off his contract this summer and there wasn’t really a market for Simons so I think it’s a little more complicated than just the money savings aspect.
My general rule of thumb is that if your ownership wants to avoid the tax and is willing to salary dump to do so, then they’re cheap. If the C’s were a tanking team then sure, it makes sense to avoid being in the tax. But you guys decided to blow up the tank 4 games into the season.
Getting under the apron removes some compounding interest that the team has to pay the league, it’s a business decision. It isn’t the ownership being cheap lol
The team won a title and , due to the leagues salary cap rules and escalating penalties, had to dump salary to retool and are still good and now have the flexibility to continue to dump salary or add talent. I know a kings fan can’t possible understand any of this.
KP couldn’t stay on the court and Jrue is getting old. Both of them were headed out either way and really was planned when they came in. Jrue is 35, great deal for Portland but getting away from him freed up more minutes for Pritchard who is signed for cheap for 3 more years. Simons is a nice bonus for one year.
Are you a guard that wants to win a 6moy award? Come to the celtics today!
True Brogdon, Pritchard, maybe Simons all in the last 4 years. Pretty crazy to have 3 different guys.
Crazy to say but the Celtics have had at least one extremely talented guard on their roster for nearly 20 years at this point lol
Simons Pritchard White Brogdon Smart Walker Kyrie Thomas Rozier Bradley Rondo Ray
2006⁄2007 was probably the last time we had inadequate guard play (delonte west, tony allen before he became tony allen, marcus banks)
not to nitpick, but 2006-07 was Rondo’s rookie season– think you’re off by a year (though tbf rookie Rondo wasn’t quite that guy yet)
I included that for your exact reason on rondo.
And for the first time in years, there’s no Pritchard on the bench coming for you.
Teague, Schröder and Brogdon were all brought in to fill that 6MOTY role and they all got traded with ‘giving Pritchard more playtime’ being one of the listed reasons.
For a while, we had an annual tradition where everyone would talk about Boston needing a 6-man, Boston recruiting someone to fill that void, and then trading that someone because it turns out the team was performing better when Pritchard played.
Guys would give up starting roles on other teams to come join Boston’s winning environment, only to be dumped 6-12 months later.
The ghost of Havilcek
Can you guys save a Jordan Poole
I’m not sure, but we’ll try dammit!
lol no we won’t
gracias portland
You welcome, honestly happy for him.
Happy for Jrue leading the rebuilding/rebuilt? Blazers.
Hated seeing him traded but understood the reason, but I was happy it was to a good team like Portland.
Yeah we needed someone that could start at PG. We have a log jam at SG, so it was either Simons or Sharpe. We started Simons both at PG and SG for multiple years. He is a great shooter and can drive well. But defensively he was never going to get good.
So 6th man position off the bench is literally perfect for him. He can come out blazing when the opposition is tired.
We’re very happy with Jrue, thanks
Portland Trailbros
Again
I was really hoping to see this for him. He’s a great shooter that got into a funk during our worst years and had even said as much. He needed a change of scenery, and being a 6th man bench scorer is perfect for him.
The downside is we really could’ve used him over the past couple months while all our guards was hurt, but as he gets healthy again Jrue fits the team we’ve built better, age aside. Plus everyone loves Jrue.
Portland with back-to-back awesome trades with the Celtics.
Honestly yeah, we’re very happy with the trades. <3 Jrue
Pleasure doing business pal
hopefully you’ll pick the phone up down the line to bring a certain UConn center back home
Ant-ferno! I’ve done a complete 180 on him
Lighting the Heat on fire qualifies him to be a Celtic for life
He’s a good kid. Just not ideal for an all switch defense.
Sheesh
he ain’t getting traded
It the Celtics could work a handshake agreement for a 3 year $15-17 million-ish per year contract then that would be awesome.
No fucking way that happens lol
A man can dream…
Seriously though, who would be in the market for him at a $20m a year contract next season?
Idk but I’m positive someone will be. Simons is def getting more than 15-17 mil a year on his next deal.
From who?
Bro we live in a world where bench players are making 20 mil a year. Someone is going to offer Simons a pretty penny. He’s being underutilized on the C’s. I don’t know who and I don’t know why I’m being interrogated lol I just dont see his market maxing out at 15-17 mil in today’s NBA. Probably some low end team who wants to make a splash
Ok so u don’t have an answer, just saw Cam Thomas sign a contract for 14 mil
Yeah when did he do that?
Simons is twice the player that Thomas is. He can actually pass and play team basketball.
He loves playing in his home state for sure. Dude dropped 25 in a quarter on us earlier this season.
Brad, can we keep him?
First 30 piece of the season for Simons, and only the 2nd time he’s scored 25+ this year.
Anferno!
Why is he on the bench on the Celtics? He could start for like 10 other teams
Payton Pritchard
Brad Stevens is a wizard omg
I love the way he shoots.
He got up 16 threes ?!
What a 4th quarter from the Celtics.
Maybe they won’t trade him after all
Lol, 7-16 3P
He needs to be starting over that Pritchard guy. It makes no sense why he’s benched when he’s clearly better
Simons is great, but he isn’t a point guard. He is best when he has the freedom to score not running the full offense. He struggled with that responsibility in Portland hence why they shopped him for a while.
Pritchard is way better as a point guard and is honestly a much better and tenacious defender. I would not mess with the roles, but I would try to get Simons some more minutes in the rotation.
Lol no he isn’t.